On Tuesday, May 4 (my day off), I decided to ride my bike to do some errands. My first stop was to get something from Wal-Mart and then go by the church's bank, which is less than 4 miles away. I knew that I had found how to get through the neighborhood from the bank to the mall years ago where they built the Wal-Mart but I had always come from the north and I hadn't been that way in 8 years. The only thing I remembered was that there were a lot of dead end streets and often it would seem like you were going the wrong direction like east or west, to get through to the south. After I left Wal-Mart, which was not there 8 years ago, I found the street into the neighborhood but it was now one way going south with parking blocks on the north side of the street, which are no problem for a bike to go through. Immediately I was faced with a choice of either left or right (east or west to go north) and so I prayed and reminded God that He had helped me see how to make a trail in the woods back in February and that I thank Him daily for helping me see spiritually and now is a time to help me see where to go. At one point I recognized a wooded creek several blocks long that you had to ride around and couldn't see through in the middle of the neighborhood. God helped me and when I turned left incorrectly after the creek, I had not gone by 2 houses before I knew to turn around. Walking or running with God is good but riding a bike with God requires faster communication. Finally, I saw the flagpole by the bank. God responds to being reminded and will help you see where to go. Some may say it was good memory. If so God helped me remember as I turned each corner and saw the next possible turn. We serve an awesome God!

To refresh what you have learned in our Workshop or entice you to experience our Workshop

Last week we talked about how events can trigger issues resulting in an argument. For example if money is an issue and the event of a bill coming might trigger an argument. There are also hidden issues. Many years ago I knew a man who grossed over a million dollars a year and yet had money issues with his spouse, including taking her credit cards away. There could have been a hidden issue of controlling. Wanting to control the money or control his spouse. Hidden issues can be powerful issues that partners are unaware of, unable to talk about, or unwilling to talk about. Spinning your wheels in a conversation, avoidance and trivial triggers can reflect hidden issues. Hidden Issues often respond best to open, safe, and clear communication as found by using the Speaker Listener Technique. As a spouse, being sensitive to possible hidden issues such as controlling, caring, acceptance, integrity, commitment, recognition, etc. can help you in your relationship. For example, if acceptance/rejection is a possible hidden issue, you can be careful not to say anything that might trigger this hidden issue, like threaten divorce.

The Better Half "When your partner won't support your efforts to make your marriage better" Without your spouse's support to improve your marriage, you can still pray daily for God's will to be done in each of your lives and your marriage ("all things are possible with God", Mark 10:27 NIV). Although in this situation, with hidden issues, communication is difficult, as a spouse, being sensitive to possible hidden issues such as controlling, caring, acceptance, integrity, commitment, recognition, etc. can help you in your relationship. . For example, if acceptance/rejection is a possible hidden issue, you can be careful not to say anything that might trigger this hidden issue, like threaten divorce. If you aware of a possible hidden issue like acceptance/ rejection in your relationship pray for God to guide you what to say that might make your spouse feel more accepted. Also you may pray for God to guide you regarding any hidden issues in your life and help you overcome them.

A Psalm for reflection "Help me to do Your will, for You are my God. Lead me in good paths, for Your Spirit is good" Ps 143:10 (TL)

Understanding the Teaching: What I share in the teaching is what I believe God wants me to share. All the direct quotes from God are highlighted in royal purple. Of course the words of Jesus are in red. Rather than follow some made up doctrine, remember that Jesus said that every thing He said (Jn 12:49) and everything He did (Jn 14:31) comes from God. All teachings and all opinions should be supported by what we learn from God or Jesus (see the scripture referred to in the footnote). For those who prefer not to take the time to look up a scripture, click on the underlined hyper link to read the scripture. Example, click here for a teaching about love.

God said through the prophet Malachi, "I, Yahweh, do not change…"1. God does not change His ways and His nature. Remember the story where God saw the children of Israel sinning and wanted to destroy them. Then Moses reminded God of past promises and encouraged Him to change His mind2. Part of God's nature is we can remind God of what He has said and we can encourage God to do things differently. [extra teaching: God suggested that He would start all over with Moses and rather than be proud of the glory it would bring for himself, Moses persisted in what he believed was best for God. Moses conduct reminds us how Jesus encourages us to "deny" ourselves3] Just like Moses interceded for the children of Israel, Jesus interceded for His followers when He told Peter, "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you …"4. God's nature is such that we can intercede for others and our efforts can change God's mind at times. God can answer our prayers in many ways. Do not limit God as Jesus says, "all things are possible with God" 5.

It is good to have Moses or Jesus look after you and speak up for you with God. Jesus knew that after He no longer walked the earth, His followers would be concerned who would guide them and look after them or help them. Jesus gets help for us to be with or in us. Jesus tells His followers that He will ask God and God "will give you another Helper". Then Jesus describes the helper as "the Spirit of truth" and says the helper "will be in you". Jesus had previously described Himself as "the truth" and after saying the helper will be in you, Jesus says that I will be "in you"6. Just like God looked after Jesus by sending Him, His Spirit when Jesus started His ministry, God sends us His Spirit7 to look after us.

Although the terms Holy Spirit and Spirit of God are used interchangeably, it is good to use the term God's Spirit or the Spirit of God to help us remember that unlike Jesus who consciously made a choice to follow what God said to say and do, God's Spirit is not independent from God as Jesus tells us that the Spirit of Truth "…will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears…"8. If you recognize teachings of Jesus that conflict with teachings in the Christian religion, you do not have to defend Jesus. If questioned, all you have to say is "If Jesus says it, I believe it". Jesus tells us that God's Spirit "will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you"9. Yes Jesus was talking to His followers but it also applies to us. I could not prepare a Jesus teaching without the Spirit's help. If you have ever read anything Jesus said in your bible, God's Spirit can remind you of what Jesus said. If you repeat what Jesus said to others, it is good to know the chapter and verse so you can be sure you have said it accurately, as misquoting Jesus or God is not a good thing. Jesus tells us "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you"10. Power to witness and apparently, as believers we receive the empowerment of God's Spirit as Jesus tells us "Believers will be given the power to perform miracles …"11 and then describes many aspects that people in their letters in the early church recorded in the bible attribute to the Holy Spirit. As a believer, allow God's Spirit to help you in every way from guidance to miracles.

"God thank You for sending Your Spirit to help us and be in us. Remind us by Your Spirit every time we are empowered to accomplish what You would have us accomplish. Thank You for sending help as Jesus requested. Thank You in Jesus' name, amen."

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